Briefly Nation: India,Pakistan finalise draft of visa agreement

India promises $500m loan to democratic Myanmar

NEW DELHI: Congratulating visiting Myanmar President U Thein Sein on the transition towards a democratic government,India on Friday announced a $500 million line-of-credit to Myanmar for a slew of development projects,including irrigation,taking the total soft loan assistance to over $800 million. Thein Sein met PM Manmohan Singh to discuss security cooperation,ease border trade and enhance investments in the energy sector to meet Indias growing energy needs.

India to sponsor 1,500 teachers,scholars to US

NEW DELHI: India intends to sponsor up to 1,500 teachers and scholars to universities and research institutes in the US in the near future as part of the initiative to foster greater ties between the two sides in the field of higher education. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal Friday held the first of its kind dialogue on higher education with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington,where the two sides reaffirmed their strategic partnership in education. The talks are an off-shoot of India-US Strategic Dialogue,aimed at fostering university linkages,student and teacher exchanges,and joint courses and programmes.